SALT LAKE CITY—A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Wednesday charging Manmeet Singh Bhatia and Marc Conrad Kammerman with May 14, 2015, robberies of Check City located at 1295 East 3300 South and The Smoke Shop located at 2343 East 3300 South in Salt Lake County.

Bhatia, age 28, of South Jordan and Kammerman, age 41, of Murray, are charged with two counts of robbery, which are violations of the federal Hobbs Act. Kimmerman is also charged with two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

Police officers responded to a robbery in progress at a Check City on 3300 South on May 14, a rainy night. By the time the officers arrived at the business, the alleged suspect had fled the scene. The victim of the robbery described a suspect wielding a black handgun. Later that night, a man walked into The Smoke House, also on 3300 South, a committed a robbery. A black handgun was also used during the commission of this robbery. A witness watched the alleged robber flee the store and get into the passenger side of a black car. The witness was also able to provide a partial license plate number.

Responding officers later observed a black car in a self-service car wash and identified items matching descriptions provided by witnesses at the two businesses. Kammerman, who is a convicted felon, was found in possession of a Beretta 9mm handgun.

The potential maximum penalty for a conviction of robbery under the Hobbs Act is 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. The potential maximum penalty for brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime is life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years. Possession of a firearm by a restricted person carries a potential 10-year sentence. Federal arrest warrants will be issued for the defendants.

Indictments are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and investigated by the FBI and the Unified Police Department.